Assurance may be on the way for millions of uninsured Americans who don't have access to a checking account and are eligible to buy subsidized coverage on the exchanges.

A proposed rule released Friday by the Centers for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight would require qualified health plans in all states to accept a variety of forms of premium payment, including paper checks, cashier's checks, money orders and replenishable pre-paid debit cards.

The rule comes on the heels of a study released last month by the national tax prep company Jackson-Hewitt that found that more than 25 percent of Americans eligible for the new tax credits under the Affordable Care Act do not have a checking account, which could stall enrollment, as most qualified health plans require members to pay monthly premiums by an automated checking account transaction.

"We realize that a segment of the population that will seek health insurance coverage through an exchange will not have bank accounts or credit cards, and we have received numerous questions and comments on this topic," the rule states. "These people should be able to access coverage through an exchange on the same basis as those with a bank account or credit card and should not be unable to access coverage merely due to the inability to pay their share of the premium."

According to the Jackson-Hewitt study, 31 percent of Tennesseans eligible for the new premium assistance tax credit are "unbanked," meaning they don't have access to checking accounts.

E.J. Boyer covers the Music City's tourism, hospitality and music business.

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